David wrote this psalm during the time he was hiding from Saul among the Philistines. Unfortunately, when we come up with human schemes to avoid trouble we often jump from the frying pan into the fire. Yet, it is never too late to cry out to God for help. David was delivered from his fears. We can bring our fears to God too. He will hear us and answer.
David wrote this psalm during the time he was hiding from Saul among the Philistines. Unfortunately, when we come up with human schemes to avoid trouble we often jump from the frying pan into the fire. Yet, it is never too late to cry out to God for help. David was delivered from his fears. We can bring our fears to God too. He will hear us and answer.
God agreed to show Moses His glory, but had to hide him in the cleft of a rock so he wouldn’t die. Whenever I read this passage, I always find myself singing, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in Thee.” Whatever Moses saw, it must have been amazing because even those who saw Moses’ face later were struck with awe and fear. The mere residual reflection of God’s glory on Moses’ face was so terrible that he had to wear a veil.
David wrote this psalm to express the blessing of being forgiven. Here, he described how it felt to have unconfessed sin between him and God. Keeping silent about his sin left him aching and discouraged. It put up a barrier between him and God that disturbed his sleep and sapped his strength. When he could take it no more, he acknowledged and confessed his sin to the Lord. And God forgave. Hidden sin is corrosive to both body and soul. Confess your sin, for God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
This chapter describes God’s instructions to Moses for consecrating and ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. The detail is somewhat overwhelming to read, but it leaves us with a few lasting impressions: 1) Worship is work. 2) Worship is for God, not us. 3) Making unholy things holy is hard, bloody work. And 4) I’m glad that Jesus came to fulfill and replace this temple worship. Jesus is our Passover Lamb and our High Priest. He has done all the work. Now, we can offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” to Him (Rom.12:1) in true worship that pleases God.
This is what Jesus will say at the last judgment to those who have cared for those who are hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, sick or imprisoned. Would you do something for Jesus? If He came to your door, would you put him up for the night or offer Him supper? If you would do something for Jesus, then here’s your chance: Do something for the “least of these.”
This oil was used to keep the 7 light, golden candle stand ever-burning in front of the table with the 12 loaves of bread (testimony). An Aaronic priest had to work the night-shift to keep it burning. Jesus is the fulfillment of this temple worship. He is both Light of the World and Bread of Life. And we are to keep the light shining on His Testimony in a dark world.
David learned that there are seasons to grief and gladness. The Lord is not absent in one and present in the other. He is present in both. And often, we are most aware of God during a time of despair. Have you learned to practice the Presence of God, regardless of the circumstances? Do not despair. The darkness will soon depart. Open the curtain and let the joy of Jesus shine in.
This was a part of Jesus’ answer to the disciples questions concerning end times. The Greek word translated “nations” is ethnos (ἔθνος). It might also be translated every race/culture/tongue. According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are still 350 million people in the world who do not have a Scripture translation in their heart language. There are still “ethnos” who have not heard the gospel. God is still asking, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” (Isa.6:8).
Jesus accused the Pharisees of the hypocrisy of outward expressions of holiness without any true heart change. The Pharisees had added layers of rules on cleanliness in their interpretation of the Torah. They even had instructions on how to do dishes. Yet, their eyes were blind and their ears deaf to Christ’s message. The disciples of Jesus may not have washed their hands according to the Pharisaic tradition, but their hearts were humble and open to Christ’s teachings. As God told Samuel, “man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” (1 Sam.16:7). What does God see in your heart?